E-books and Online Textbooks

E-books and Online Textbooks provide you an alternative to the current in-print edition. Before you commit your funds to the current in-print edition, find out if an electronic version is available. If the publisher offers an electronic version, here are some things to consider before you decide if E-books and Online Textbooks are a viable alternative for you.

What's an E-Book?

E-Books are the digital media equivalent to their in-print counterparts. Much like you’re probably reading this article from your computer right now, so would you be reading an E-Book. E-books are often available in a software format that can be viewed using a free reader program, like reading a pdf file using Adobe's free reader. There are also dedicated hardware devices that are specifically designed to hold and display digital media. Several companies have tried to create the standard for E-Book readers but none have been widely accepted so far. Amazon’s Kindle has been the most successful to date.

Publisher Offerings

Prices for E-books and Online Textbooks usually run about 33 to 50 percent less than the new in print edition. Publishers are experimenting with different ways to deliver their digital content. You may find a selection of E-Books offered at your local college bookstore in the form of a card with a web address and a code to download the content to your computer.

Some publishers are offering E-books directly from web sites. CourseSmart and iChapters cover the majority of the larger publishers. These sites even allow you to purchase individual chapters. This is helpful if your professor has only assigned reading from a portion of the textbook.

E-book Drawbacks

Dedicated devices such as the Kindle usually require a proprietary software format and specific sources to obtain the content. Which brings us to the first disadvantage of E-Books. Although the Kindle is the current leader, no single device has overcome all the hurdles and set a standard that provides a universal solution. Much like the limiting choice you have to make between the i-Pod format and an mp3 player in the music industry.

Another drawback is ease of use. If you enjoy highlighting and making crib notes in the margins of your books, your monitor is going to get awfully messy studying from an an E-book. Before you can comfortably use digital content you’ll have to adapt your hands on approach for studying from it. Some people use a note pad and re-write the important information, while others make reference notes to go back to the pages they need to re-read.

One other thing to consider is that many publishers are only offering a limited life for an E-book file on your hardware. You may enjoy a cost savings up front, but there is no residual value once you’re through with it and the file expires. If you want to keep your book for future reference, you should probably buy the in-print edition.

If you think you’d be comfortable using an E-book, you should first do a search to find out if any of your required texts are available online for free:

Free Online Textbooks





Free All-About-Textbooks-Advisor service

Are you becoming overwhelmed by all the information being offered here? There's no need to stress yourself trying to retain it all. Allow me to send you the exact instructions at the precise times you need them.
(based on a traditional school year calendar)

For example: You'll get a reminder when you should begin researching next semesters books, links to the tools to do your research, when and how to receive the most money at buy back etc. . . Sign up here: